Order of the Bath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Most Honourable Order of the Bath breast star of a Knight / Dame Grand Cross (Civil Division)
Awarded by the monarch of the United Kingdom
Type	Order of chivalry
Established	18 May 1725; 300 years ago (1725-05-18)
Country	United Kingdom
Motto	Tria juncta in uno ('Three joined in one') (Civil Division) Ich dien (Military Division)
Awarded for	Service to the Crown
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	George I
Sovereign	Charles III
Great Master	William, Prince of Wales
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCB) Knight/Dame Commander (KCB/DCB) Companion (CB)
Former grades	Knight Companion (KB)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of St Patrick
Next (lower)	Order of the Star of India
Order of the Bath ribbon bar

Coat of arms of the British monarch as sovereign of the Order of the Bath.

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a special group of people honored by the British monarch. It's a type of order of chivalry, which is like an exclusive club for people who have done great things for their country. King George I started it on May 18, 1725.

People who receive this honor are usually important military officers or senior government workers. The King or Queen gives out these awards based on advice from the government. The Order's name comes from an old medieval ceremony where knights would take a special bath. This bath was a symbol of being "clean" or "pure" before becoming a knight. Even though the full bathing ceremony isn't done anymore, the name "Knights of the Bath" stuck.

King George I officially created the Knights of the Bath as a formal military order. This means it became a structured group with rules and a set number of members.

The Order has the Sovereign of the United Kingdom (currently King Charles III), a Great Master (currently William, Prince of Wales), and three main levels of members:

• Knight Grand Cross (GCB) or Dame Grand Cross (GCB);
• Knight Commander (KCB) or Dame Commander (DCB); and
• Companion (CB).

Members belong to either the Civil Division (for government service) or the Military Division (for military service). Before 1815, there was only one level, Knight Companion (KB), but that's not an option anymore. People from other Commonwealth countries or foreign nations can also become Honorary Members.

The Order of the Bath is one of the highest honors in the British system. It comes after the Order of the Garter and the Order of the Thistle.

History of the Order

Early Knights of the Bath

Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland, a Knight of the Bath, around 1630.

In the Middle Ages, becoming a knight often involved special ceremonies. One part of this ceremony was a bath, which was a symbol of spiritual cleansing. After the bath, the knight-to-be would spend a night in a chapel, praying. At dawn, they would confess and attend a church service. Then, they would be brought before the King. The King would attach spurs to their heels, fasten a belt around their waist, and then tap them on the neck with a hand or a sword. This tap, called an "accolade," was the most important part of making someone a knight. Over time, the ceremony became simpler, often just involving the tap on the shoulder with a sword, which is called "dubbing."

From the year 1399, during the time of King Henry IV, the full bathing ceremonies were only used for very important royal events. These included coronations, when a new Prince of Wales was named, or royal weddings. The knights created this way were known as Knights of the Bath. Other knights, called Knights Bachelor, were created with a simpler ceremony. The last time Knights of the Bath were created with the full ceremony was in 1661, for the coronation of King Charles II.

Around 1625, Knights of the Bath started using the motto Tria juncta in uno. This is Latin for 'Three joined in one'. They also wore a badge with three crowns inside a gold oval. Both the motto and the badge were later adopted by the formal Order of the Bath. The meaning of the motto isn't fully clear. It might refer to the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and either France or Ireland, which were ruled or claimed by British monarchs. This would match the three crowns on the badge. Another idea is that it refers to the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Founding the Official Order

Sir Robert Walpole, who was the Prime Minister and used the Order to gain political support.

The main person behind creating the official Order of the Bath was John Anstis. He was the Garter King of Arms, a very important officer in charge of heraldry (coats of arms and titles). At that time, in the early 1700s, there weren't many ways for the King to reward people for their service. The only honors were titles like peerages (like Duke or Earl) and baronetcies, or knighthoods. The Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle were very limited in numbers.

The King still had a lot of power, and his court was the center of politics. To lead the government, a Prime Minister needed the King's trust and support. They also needed to be able to offer rewards like jobs or honors to their supporters in Parliament.

The new Order of the Bath was very useful for Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. It gave him a new way to reward people and strengthen his political position. He made sure that most of the first 36 new members were important peers and Members of Parliament who supported him. King George I agreed to Walpole's plan. Anstis then wrote the rules for the Order, using the old Knights of the Bath's motto, badge, and colors. He also based many of the rules on the Order of the Garter. The Order was officially started on May 18, 1725.

The Order first had the Sovereign, a Prince of the Royal family, a Great Master, and 35 Knights Companion. There were also seven officers who helped run the Order. These officer positions were also used to reward people, as they came with payments from the knights. Even though it was called a military order, only a few military officers were among the first members. Most were politicians or people connected to the Royal Household.

The first Knights Companion were formally recognized by the King on May 27, 1725. The old medieval ceremonies were not fully performed, except for the "Installation" ceremony. This ceremony took place in the Order's Chapel, the Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey, on June 17. This tradition continued until 1812, when the Installation was also stopped. However, it was brought back in the 1900s.

Over time, especially from the 1770s, more and more appointments to the Order were given for achievements in the navy, army, or diplomacy. This was because Britain was involved in many wars during this period. For example, the Peninsular War created so many deserving military leaders that a special rule was made. It allowed more "Extra Knights" to be appointed during wartime, beyond the usual number limits.

Changes in 1815

In January 1815, after the Peninsular War ended, the Prince Regent (who later became King George IV) made the Order of the Bath much bigger. He wanted to honor the many officers who had shown great bravery and service during the war.

The Order was now divided into three levels: Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commander, and Companions. The 60 existing Knights Companion became Knights Grand Cross. This new top level was limited to 72 members, with 12 of them being for civil or diplomatic service. Military members at this level had to be at least a major-general or rear admiral. The Knights Commander level was limited to 180 members, plus up to ten honorary foreign members. They had to be at least a lieutenant-colonel or post-captain. The number of Companions was not limited, but they had to have received a medal or been mentioned in official reports for their service since 1803. About 500 new Companions were named. This big increase in members led to some people complaining that it would make the Order less special.

Victorian Era Changes

Sir Alexander Milne (1808–1896) was both a KCB (civil) and GCB (military). He is shown wearing the symbols for both.

In 1847, Queen Victoria made new rules for the Order. She removed all mentions of it being only a military Order. This meant that the Knight Commander and Companion levels could now also be given for civil (non-military) achievements. This created the Military and Civil Divisions of the Order. New limits were set on the number of members.

The 1847 rules also got rid of all the old medieval rituals. However, they introduced a formal Investiture ceremony. In this ceremony, the Sovereign (King or Queen) would wear the special robes and symbols of the Order. The officers and as many Knights Grand Cross as possible would also attend in their robes.

In 1859, more changes were made, mainly about the costs related to the Order. Before this, the special symbols (insignia) given by the Crown had to be returned when a member died. Now, only the Collar (a special necklace) had to be returned. Also, all members would receive silver stars, not just honorary foreign members. The fees that members paid to the Order's officers were removed and replaced with salaries for the officers. Some officer roles were also combined or removed.

Modern Times

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns in his uniform, wearing the star, ribbon, and badge of a military Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

In 1910, after he became King, King George V decided to bring back the Installation ceremony. This ceremony had not been held since 1812. The first new Installation ceremony took place on July 22, 1913, in the Henry VII Chapel. Since then, Installations have been held regularly.

Before the 1913 ceremony, the chapel had to be changed to fit more members. Money was raised from members of the Order to do this.

In 1971, women were allowed to join the Order. Jean Nunn was the first woman to be admitted in 1971. In 1975, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who was Elizabeth II's aunt, became the first woman to reach the highest rank, Dame Grand Cross.

Who Belongs to the Order?

The Sovereign

The British King or Queen is the head of the Order of the Bath. They are called the Sovereign of the Order. The Sovereign makes all appointments to the Order, but they do so based on advice from the government.

The Great Master

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, was Great Master from 1843–1861. Members now wear their robes over modern clothes.

The second most important member of the Order is the Great Master. This person is usually a member of the Royal Family. The Great Master is in charge of the Order's official seal and makes sure the rules are followed.

Here are the people who have been Great Master:

• 1725–1749 — John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
• 1749–1767 — (no one)
• 1767–1827 — Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
• 1827–1830 — Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (later King William IV)
• 1830–1837 — (no one)
• 1837–1843 — Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
• 1843–1861 — Albert, Prince Consort
• 1861–1897 — (no one)
• 1897–1901 — Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII)
• 1901–1942 — Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
• 1942–1974 — Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
• 1974–2022 — Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III)
• 2022–2024 — (no one)
• 2024–present — William, Prince of Wales

Members of the Order

Sash and star of a Grand Cross, civil division.

The rules of the Order allow for a certain number of members:

• 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB)
• 355 Knights Commander (KCB) or Dames Commander (DCB)
• 1,925 Companions (CB)

Most members are citizens of the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth countries where the British monarch is the head of state. They are usually high-ranking officers in the armed forces or senior government officials.

Official papers appointing Italian captain Ernesto Burzagli as an honorary Companion of the Order

To be appointed to the Civil Division, a person must have provided "personal services to the Crown or performed public duties" that deserve royal recognition. For the Military Division, there are minimum required. For example, a Knight Grand Cross (GCB) must be an admiral in the Royal Navy, a general in the Army, or an air chief marshal in the Royal Air Force.

People from other countries or Commonwealth citizens who are not subjects of the British monarch can become Honorary Members. For example, Queen Elizabeth II often made visiting presidents honorary GCBs. Famous foreign generals like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Colin Powell have also received honorary appointments.

Sometimes, an honorary membership can be taken away. For instance, Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, had his honor removed in 2008 because of human rights abuses in his country. Honorary members do not count towards the numerical limits of the Order.

Officers of the Order

Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB (military division).

The Order of the Bath has six officers who help manage it:

• Dean: The Dean of Westminster (currently David Hoyle)
• King of Arms: Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton
• Registrar and Secretary: Rear Admiral Iain Henderson
• Deputy Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave
• Genealogist: David White
• Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod: Major General James Gordon

The Dean is always the Dean of Westminster Abbey. The King of Arms is in charge of the Order's heraldry (coats of arms). The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod is another officer, but unlike his counterpart in the Order of the Garter, he does not work in the House of Lords.

Originally, there were seven officers who received fees from the knights. Over time, some offices were combined or removed, and salaries replaced the fees.

Special Clothes and Symbols

An embroidered star of the civil division of the Order.

The symbols of a Knight Grand Cross of the civil division of the order.

Mantle (robe) of the Order.

The symbols of a Knight Grand Cross of the military division of the order.

Star and neck badge of a Knight Commander of the civil division of the order.

Members of the Order wear special, fancy clothes and symbols (called insignia) for important events like installation ceremonies or coronations. These vary depending on their rank:

The mantle is a long robe worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross. It's made of deep red satin and has a star symbol on the left side.

The hat is made of black velvet and has a tall feather plume. It's worn by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, and Knights and Dames Commander.

The collar is a heavy gold chain worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross. It has nine imperial crowns and eight sets of flowers (roses for England, thistles for Scotland, and shamrocks for Ireland), connected by silver knots.

For less formal occasions, simpler symbols are used:

The star is worn by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander, pinned to the left side of their chest.

• The star for military members is a Maltese Cross on top of an eight-pointed silver star. It has three crowns in the center, surrounded by a red ring with the Order's motto in gold. It also has two laurel branches and the words Ich dien (old German for 'I serve') below.
• The star for civil members is an eight-pointed silver star (without the Maltese cross). It has the same central design with three crowns and the motto, but it does not have the laurel branches or the words Ich dien.

The badge is a smaller symbol that varies in design and how it's worn. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear a large badge on a wide red ribbon (called a riband or sash) that goes from their right shoulder to their left hip. Knights Commander and male Companions wear their badge from a ribbon around their neck. Dames Commander and female Companions wear their badge from a bow pinned on their left side.

• The military badge is a white-enameled gold Maltese Cross with small gold balls on each point and small lion figures in the angles. The front has three crowns, and the back has a rose, thistle, and shamrock coming from a scepter. Both sides are surrounded by a red ring with the motto, laurel branches, and Ich dien.
• The civil badge is a plain gold oval. The front has three crowns, and the back has a rose, thistle, and shamrock coming from a scepter. Both sides are surrounded by a ring with the Order's motto.

On certain special days chosen by the Sovereign, members wear the Order's collar over their uniform or formal clothes. When the collar is worn, the badge hangs from it.

The collars and badges of Knights and Dames Grand Cross must be returned to the Central Office of the Orders of Knighthood when the owner dies. Other symbols can be kept by the members.

The Order's Chapel

Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath, painted by Canaletto in 1749.

Banners of the senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

The official Chapel of the Order of the Bath is the Henry VII Lady Chapel inside Westminster Abbey in London. The Sovereign, the Great Master, and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross have special stalls (seats) in the chapel's choir area. Above each stall, their heraldic devices (symbols from their coat of arms) are displayed.

Every four years, an installation ceremony and a religious service are held in the chapel. The Great Master leads this service. Only the most senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross are installed because there are a limited number of stalls. Sometimes, people have to wait a very long time to be installed after being admitted to the Order.

Above each stall, you can see the member's heraldic symbols. On top of a knight's stall is his helmet, decorated with a mantling and topped by his crest. For women, instead of a helmet, their coronet (if they are a peer or Royal Family member) is used.

Above the helmet or coronet, the knight's or dame's heraldic banner hangs, showing their coat of arms. At the back of each stall, there's a small brass plate (a 'stall plate') with the member's name, their coat of arms, and the date they joined the Order.

When a Knight or Dame dies, their banner, helmet, and crest are taken down. However, the stall plates are never removed. They stay permanently attached to the stalls. This means the chapel is filled with a colorful record of all the Knights and Dames of the Order throughout history.

Special Benefits

Order of Precedence

Coat of arms of the Marquess of Carisbrooke (1886–1960) with the special symbols of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Coat of arms of the Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Members of the Order of the Bath are given a special place in the order of precedence. This is a list that shows who ranks higher than whom in formal situations. The wives of male members also get a place on this list, as do the children and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander. However, the husbands or children of female members do not get any special precedence.

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander can use 'Sir' before their first name. Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander can use 'Dame' before their first name. The wives of Knights can use 'Lady' before their husband's last name. However, this doesn't apply to peers (like Dukes or Earls) or princes. Also, honorary foreign members and religious leaders do not get the 'Sir' title unless they later become British citizens.

Members also use special letters after their name:

• Knights and Dames Grand Cross use GCB.
• Knights Commander use KCB.
• Dames Commander use DCB.
• Companions use CB.

Heraldry

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are allowed to have special heraldic supporters (figures that stand on either side of their coat of arms). They can also show their coat of arms surrounded by a red circle (the circlet) with the Order's motto and the badge hanging from it. The collar can also be shown around their arms.

Knights and Dames Commander and Companions can display the circlet around their arms, but not the collar. The badge is shown hanging from the circlet. Military members can also add two laurel branches and the words Ich dien around the circlet, just like on their badge.

Members of the Order of the Bath and their children can get married in Westminster Abbey in London.

Losing Membership

It is possible for someone to lose their membership in the Order. In the past, under the 1725 rules, this could happen for serious reasons like heresy (going against religious beliefs), high treason (betraying the country), or running away from battle out of cowardice. If a Knight Companion was found guilty, their stall plate (the brass plate with their name and arms) would be pulled down from the chapel stall and thrown out.

Only two people were officially removed in this way: Lord Cochrane in 1813 and General Sir Eyre Coote in 1816. Both were for political reasons, not the ones listed in the rules. Lord Cochrane was later given his honor back.

Today, membership can be canceled or removed by the Sovereign, based on the advice of a government minister. Such cancellations can also be reversed later.

Some notable people who had their honorary GCB status removed include:

• Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1940, after he declared war on the UK.
• Romanian president Nicolae Ceauşescu in 1989, the day before he was executed.
• Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, in 2008, due to human rights abuses and disrespect for democracy.
• Vicky Pryce, a former government official, in 2013, after she was found guilty of a crime.

Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross

• Sovereign: King Charles III
• Great Master: William, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, PC, ADC(P) (2024)

Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Honorary Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Country	Name	Post-nominals	Year appointed	Office when appointed
Portugal	António Ramalho Eanes	GCB	1978	16th President of Portugal
Nigeria	Ibrahim Babangida	GCB	1989	8th President of Nigeria
Iceland	Vigdís Finnbogadóttir	GCB GCMG	1990	4th President of Iceland
Poland	Lech Wałęsa	GCB	1991	2nd President of Poland
Brunei	Hassanal Bolkiah	GCB GCMG	1992	29th Sultan of Brunei
Poland	Aleksander Kwaśniewski	GCB GCMG	1996	3rd President of Poland
Brazil	Fernando Henrique Cardoso	GCB	1997	34th President of Brazil
Jordan	Abdullah II of Jordan	GCB GCMG KCVO	2001	King of Jordan
South Africa	Thabo Mbeki	GCB	2001	2nd President of South Africa
Nigeria	Olusegun Obasanjo	GCB	2003	12th President of Nigeria
Germany	Horst Köhler	GCB	2004	9th President of Germany
Malta	Eddie Fenech Adami	GCB	2005	7th President of Malta
Brazil	Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva	GCB	2006	35th President of Brazil
Lithuania	Valdas Adamkus	GCB	2006	9th President of Lithuania
Latvia	Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga	GCB	2006	6th President of Latvia
Estonia	Toomas Hendrik Ilves	GCB	2006	4th President of Estonia
Ghana	John Kufuor	GCB	2007	2nd President of Ghana
Turkey	Abdullah Gül	GCB	2008	11th President of Turkey
France	Nicolas Sarkozy	GCB	2008	23rd President of France
Slovenia	Danilo Türk	GCB	2008	4th President of Slovenia
Mexico	Felipe Calderón	GCB	2009	56th President of Mexico
South Africa	Jacob Zuma	GCB	2010	4th President of South Africa
Qatar	Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani	GCB GCMG	2010	Emir of Qatar
Indonesia	Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono	GCB AC	2012	6th President of Indonesia
South Korea	Park Geun-hye	GCB	2013	11th President of South Korea
France	François Hollande	GCB	2014	24th President of France
Singapore	Tony Tan	GCB	2014	7th President of Singapore
Mexico	Enrique Peña Nieto	GCB	2015	57th President of Mexico
Germany	Joachim Gauck	GCB	2015	11th President of Germany
Colombia	Juan Manuel Santos	GCB	2016	32nd President of Colombia
South Africa	Cyril Ramaphosa	GCB	2022	5th President of South Africa
Germany	Frank-Walter Steinmeier	GCB	2023	12th President of Germany
France	Emmanuel Macron	GCB CBE	2023	25th President of France
South Korea	Yoon Suk Yeol	GCB	2023	13th President of South Korea

Images for kids

• 

  Star, Knight Grand Cross Military Division

• 

  Neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859-1948) in 1935

• 

  Star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis

• 

  Star and neck Badge awarded to Sir Charles Taylor du Plat

• 

  Medal Ribbon of the Order of the Bath

See also

In Spanish: Orden del Baño para niños For people who have been appointed to the Order of the Bath, see the following categories:

• Category: Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• Category: Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• Category: Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
• Category: Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
• Category: Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath
• List of knights and dames grand cross of the Order of the Bath
• List of knights companion of the Order of the Bath
• Category: Knights of the Bath
• Category: Companions of the Order of the Bath
• List of honorary British knights and dames
• List of people who have declined a British honour
• List of revocations of appointments to orders and awarded decorations and medals of the United Kingdom